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Press Release

11/21/2007

CONTACT:

Tara Klimek or Brannon Jordan (850) 413-2842

TALLAHASSEE – Florida Chief Financial Officer Alex Sink, who also serves as the chair of the Healthy Kids Board, today announced the Board has appointed Richard Robleto as the new Executive Director of the Florida Healthy Kids Corporation.

“This is an exciting day for the Healthy Kids program,” said CFO Sink, who oversees the Department of Financial Services. “Under Rich’s proven leadership, I am confident that more of Florida’s children will receive the affordable health care they deserve.”

Before his appointment, Robleto served as Executive Vice President of the Florida Association of Health Plans (FAHP). Robleto also worked for the Office of Insurance Regulation (OIR) and the former Department of Insurance for eight years, where he served as the Deputy Commissioner of Life and Health Insurance and the Bureau Chief of Life and Health Product Review. While at the OIR, Robleto received national recognition as outstanding regulator of the year. Before moving to Florida, Robleto spent 26 years at Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Delaware, serving as Vice President of the Corporation and General Manager of its Life Insurance subsidiary and Vice President.

“I have always admired the Healthy Kids program, and I consider it a tremendous honor to have been selected as Executive Director,” said Robleto. “I look forward to working with CFO Sink and the Healthy Kids Board to expand our efforts to help working families purchase affordable health insurance for their children.”

The Florida Healthy Kids program is one of four components of the larger Florida KidCare program, the state’s health insurance program for uninsured children. The Florida KidCare program serves nearly 1.4 million children, of which 1.1 million are Medicaid customers and more than 255,000 are enrolled in MediKids, Children’s Medical Services or Healthy Kids. Florida Healthy Kids allows working families the opportunity to purchase low-cost health insurance for their children ages 5 through 19. To be eligible for discounted premiums, families must earn less than 200 percent of the federal poverty level, or $40,000 for a family of four. Children enrolled in these programs receive regular doctor visits, dental check-ups and immunizations at little to no cost.

Recently, CFO Sink announced enrollment numbers from the ongoing Florida KidCare community campaign to reach families with uninsured children. During the month of October, 17,497 more children were enrolled in Florida KidCare, following the record-setting receipt of more than 38,000 applications in August and more than 39,000 applications in September.

As a statewide elected officer of the Florida Cabinet, Chief Financial Officer Alex Sink oversees the Department of Financial Services, a multi-division state agency responsible for management of state funds and unclaimed property, assisting consumers who request information and help related to financial services, and investigating financial fraud. CFO Sink also serves as the State Fire Marshal.